Your child’s birthday is an important event that she looks forward to every year. Like her friends, she wants to have a birthday party, but you may worry about what this means for your budget. Fortunately, you can plan her birthday party without breaking the bank–it simply takes a bit more time to get things together.
Location
The cheapest place to throw a kids birthday party is your own home. When you have the party in your home, you don’t have to pay rental fees or special catering charges, as you would at outside locations. If you don’t have a lot of space inside, consider holding it in your backyard or limiting the number of children you invite to the party.
Time Frame
If you throw the party around lunchtime or dinnertime, parents will expect you to provide a meal for their child. A party in the afternoon, on the other hand, requires only a few snacks and a cake. This dramatically reduces your food expenses.
Activities
Activities for a child’s birthday party don’t have to cost anything at all. You can play classic games such as duck duck goose or musical statues, where children must freeze when the music stops. If you already have several craft supplies around the house, it may be cheap to do a craft with the kids, such as a paper plate mask or a beaded necklace. The great thing about crafts is that they can double as party favors, reducing the amount of money you spend on goody bags.
Considerations
Party decorations can be a big additional expense for the party, especially if you buy character packages that include a tablecloth, plates, napkins, cups and signs. Consider using plates and cups that you already have–not only is it cheaper, but it’s better for the environment as well. A few balloons can set the mood without requiring a lot of money. If you buy streamers and other decorations, try saving them for the next party.
Misconceptions
Many parents fear that in this fast-paced age, children will not have a good time if they’re not at an exciting location, such as the zoo or the bowling alley. You may worry that other children will tease your child for having a party at home instead of these locations. In actuality, most children don’t care about this type of thing. If you plan a party that’s fun, they’ll never know that you did it because you didn’t have the money. They’ll just think that you’re a great mom.
Photo Credit
- child’s birthday image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
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